James N. Larsen, age 89, of Brandt, SD died Thursday, August 6, 2015 in the Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake, SD. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, Brandt, SD. Visitation will be Monday, August 10th from 5 – 7:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake. The Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake, SD is entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.housemanfuneralhome.com.
James N. Larsen was born at Dell Rapids, SD on October 19, 1925 to Neils and Ettie (Boniface) Larsen. Jim attended grade school through the 8th grade at the Hart School District 27 east of Dell Rapids. Following his education he began working on the family farm. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 25, 1945 and served as a Military Policeman during WWII until his honorable discharge on November 9, 1946.
Jim moved back to the family farm until his marriage to Kitty Lee Boelens on June 28, 1950 in Elkton, SD. Jim and Kitty farmed east of Dell Rapids until 1974 when they purchased a farm near Brandt, SD where they continued to run their dairy farm. He retired at the age of 80 after they sold the farm and machinery and then moved into Clear Lake. Later he became a resident at the Deuel County Good Samaritan Center in Clear Lake, SD. Jim passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2015 in the Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 18 days.
Jim was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake; farmers union and a former member of the NFO. He was also a member of Post 65 of the American Legion at Dell Rapids and the Charles Curry American Legion Post 49 of Clear Lake. He also served on the Deuel County Weed Board as well as the Norden Township Board. Jim’s passion was the farm where he and Kitty raised their five children.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Kitty Lee Larsen; five children: Terry (Kathy) Larsen, Huron, SD, Jean (Bob) Blankenship, Redding, CA, James (Sandie) Larsen, Lakewood, WA, Kay (Paul) Giesel, Clear Lake, SD and Lisa Glasgow, Pleasanton, CA; 10 grandchildren: Jason, Todd, Brent, Lindsey, Heidi, Matt, Meghan, Seth, Billie Jo and Arlen and 12 great grandchildren: Gracie, Madisen, Sylvan, Wyatt, Daniel, Samantha, John, Trenton, Byron, Brooklyn, Charlie and Kaeli Madisen.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother William.